Improvement in driving-reins



UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrrca.

JAMES P. TOLMAN, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOB TO TH E SILVER LAKE COMPANY,

.OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS;

IMPROVEMENT lN DRIVING-REINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 177,302, dated May 9, 1876; application filed April 22, 1876'.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. TOLMAN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Driving-Reins, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents my improved drivingreins arranged for a pair of horses. Fig. 2 is a section through the adjustable clamp employed for making the connections. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof one of the halves or portions of the clamp inverted. Fig. 4: represents the snap-hook employed for attaching the reins to the hits, the lower portion or socket of the hook being shown in section.

The object of my invention is to furnish a cheap and reliable substitute for the ordinary leather reins, to be used particularly for agricultural purposes, and having all the advantages of adjustability heretofore afforded by straps and buckles; and my invention consists in driving reins or lines composed of cord in which the connections are formed by means of adjustable clamps of peculiar construction, the reins being provided with snaphooks, by which they are attached to the bits.

To enable others skilled in the art to understandand use my invention, I w1ll proceed the reins are composed should be coated-with a water-proof glazing, to protect it from the weather, and thus increase its durability.

The clamps B are each composed of two portions, 0 0, each of which is provided with two semicircular grooves, d, for'the reception of the cord, each groove having at each of its screw-driver, wrench, orother instrument being required. Furthermore, these clamps are cheap, simple, and effective, the holding-lips e rendering the parts perfectly secure, and effectually preventing any liability of slip.

7 Each of the books 0 is provided at its inner end with a tapering socket or thimble, g,

through which the end of the cord is passed v until it projects through the eye h. A common wood-screw, "5, (previously tinned to prevent rust, which would destroy the cord in contact therewith,) is then inserted into the end of the cord at its center, and screwed in until its head is sunk beneath the end of the cord, when the latter is pulled down into the socket g, as seen in Fig. 4, the screw acting as a wedge to spread the cord and hold it firmly in place within the socket, and prevent it from being withdrawn therefrom, all necessity of tying or splicing, as heretofore, being thus avoided, and straps and buckles entirely dispensed with, the reins having all theadvantages of adjustability afforded by the more costly leather reins in general use, and they are, consequently, particularly adapted for agricultural purposes, where cheapness, lightness, and strength are required.

. The hooks O. and clamps B are made, preferably, of malleable iron, tinned to prevent rust, which would injure or destroy the cord in contact therewith.

Instead of a screw, '6, a wedge may be employed, if preferred, and the construction of the snap-hook beyond the socket 9 may be varied, as desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, drivingreins composed of cord, and provided with adjustable clamps B and snamhooksfigsuhstafltially a'sland for the punposezsetiifonthw 2. An adjustable clamp, B, composed of two portions, 0 0, each having two gr0oves,d,..

with holdinglips e, in combination with the thumb-screw f, for connecting theflsdiflienent portions of driving-reins compusecl of "cord; j

- 5 Impnesenee of P. E. TESCHEMAOHER, .L. CAMBRIDGE.

substantially as described;

3. In combination with driving-reins com posed of cord, a snap-hook,O,Jpr0vided with amageiiiapg sneket'tgg for timmeoeptiem off tli e endfidflthe covdgisecured tlieneih 19 wa:smmwwr wedge, substantially as set forth.

Witness myhand this 15th day of April,

@MWESWL momma; 

